What is Autism and the Autistic Spectrum?

Autism

Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that affects the way a person communicates and relates to the world around them. This can sometimes be accompanied by learning difficulties. However every autistic person has a difficulty in making sense of the world.

Asperger syndrome

Asperger syndrome is a form of autism but is used to describe a person who is at the “higher functioning” end of the autistic spectrum. However it is also a lifelong disability that affects the way a person communicates, and relates to others.

A number of the traits of autism are common to Asperger Syndrome including: